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Wedding Reception Features and Considerations
Planning a wedding can be a lot of work!
Here are some educational points and ideas 30 years of experience has taught us that you may want to consider. We want to give you the "Peace of Mind" that everything will be taken care of well
ahead of time so you can enjoy your special day.
Going to the Chapel:
Tunes To Go can provide
Ceremony Sound and Music. Background music will be played as
your guests arrive and are seated. Other special music
selections (you can select) are played as parents and wedding party take their
places and for the bridal processional and recessional. Also,
if you would like music played during a Rose Exchange or a
Unity Candle, just let us know! This is just one of many things we can discuss in our meeting well in advance of the ceremony.
Starting Off the Reception:
We will have the music of your
choice playing as guests are arriving at your reception site.
The next event to consider is your Grand Entrance. This can be
a simple announcement of your arrival, or it can include the
parents and the entire wedding party. We will gather and line
everyone up in the foyer or lobby, and then it's time to get
things started! (Note: Tunes To Go prefers to provide a sheet to the wedding party that lists everyone (in order) based on the reception information sheet you provide us. In this manner, everyone is organized, knows how to line up, and the entrance goes very smoothly and well orchestrated.)
Your Special Dance:
Some people like to do their First
Dance before the meal, while others save it until later.
Either way is fine, but we recommend that both of you do a
"Test Dance" to your song at home to ensure that you are
comfortable with the tempo and length. A practice run is also
a good idea for your Father/Daughter, Mother/Son, Parents
Dance. If you don't already have a favorite slow song, DJ G will be glad to provide some suggestions at the face-to-face meeting well in advance of your wedding day.
Cheers!
The Toast can either be before the meal, near
the end of the meal, or with the cake cutting. We recommend
doing it before the meal (not long after seating the wedding party), because you will have everyone's
attention. Traditionally, the Best Man and Maid of Honor
begin, but it's not uncommon for other members of the wedding
party or the parents to say a few words also. Another nice touch is
for the Bride and Groom to do a "Thank You" toast to all of
their guests. A Blessing following the toast is optional. Of course, we
make our remote microphone available to those wedding party members making the toast.
Be Our Guest:
During the meal, soft background music
(light jazz or classical, gentle big band or a mix of all, your choice) will be played. We can also help
release tables if your meal is a buffet or consists of food
stations. As guests are finishing their meal, we recommend
playing some classy vocal music (Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Louie
Armstrong) that's a little more upbeat. But we always keep the
volume low so guests can talk. You will probably have some
time to visit your guests during dinner, but try not to hold
up the dancing and scheduled events, as other guests may grow
restless. Centerpieces: Many couples choose to give these away
at the end of the meal. We find that it gets everyone's
attention and raises the energy level in the room.
Daddy's Little Girl:
Although each family situation is
unique, many brides choose to have a Father/Daughter Dance.
Also popular is a Mother/Son dance, or simply having all the
parents or wedding party join in for a great photo
opportunity. If the song last more than 3 or 4 minutes, you may want to consider joining the wedding party with the dancers half-way through the song. Again, the possiblities are unlimited and it'll all be done the way you both prefer.
Let Them Eat Cake!
For your cake cutting we will
announce it several times so nobody misses out on this special
moment. We play a romantic song while your photographer
directs you when to cut, when to eat, etc....
Ladies Night:
The Bouquet Toss (Optional) is another
highlight of the evening for most brides, and we will invite
all the single ladies to the dancefloor to join in the fun!
Bachelor Pad:
For the Garter Toss, we invite all of the single gentlemen to dance floor for the
removal and toss (and request all single guys be at least 18 years of age). We recommend doing the Bouquet and Garter
immediately after your cake cutting, as there is usually some
'Dance Downtime' while servers cut the cake, and your
photographer will still be there to capture the moment.
The Money Dance:
Depending on your type of wedding, we
can orchestrate this optional event. Actually, we like to call
it the "Honeymoon Dance" instead of the "Money" or "Dollar"
dances. The men dance with and give money to the bride, while
the women dance with and give money to the groom. Classic
slower songs set the mood, and this event can take anywhere
from 15-30+ minutes.... so plan your evening timing accordingly. We have played receptions with over 500 people and the honeymoon dance took well over an hour.
Dance the Night Away:
Let us know what types of music
you would like, and also what you DON'T want played, and feel
free to make your own list. If you have booked us for your reception,
please be sure you have completed the 'reception info' form and have filled out the song list with your specific requests. During the reception, requests from guests are welcome,
and each table will find our 'request sheet' that allows each table to ask for up to 4 songs, which will be played throughout the evening. You will also be in control of how 'interactive' you want us to
be. We can go from conservative to upbeat, depending on the crowd and age group. The request sheet also tastefully mentions that songs with profanity, racial lyrics or objectional topics will not be played... at least, until later in the night after the age group is appropriate. Again, you'll have the opportunity to say 'yea' or 'nay' when it comes to music of this type at your reception.
Special Exit or Last Dance?
We can announce and
customize (such as playing a special song at) your exit
or simply announce when the time has come for the last dance.
We recognize that we play a major role in the success of
your wedding, and we don't take this responsibility lightly.
Because DJ G is always very busy making sure there are no gaps in the music, lights are just right, and volume is set appropriately, the Tunes To Go DJ always brings an associate to assist in taking requests, helping guests remember their favorite songs (that they can't remember at that moment), and keep communications going with the photographer, wedding planner, caterer and others who are also working for you.
We
hope that these guidelines will help you cherish your special
day for many happy anniversaries to come!
(C) Copyright 2005-2006 Tunes-To-Go.com Inc. All rights reserved.
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